Laupahoehoe Point Light sits on a low lava peninsula jutting into the Pacific Ocean on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii‘s Big Island. This remote lighthouse marks one of the few accessible coastal points along the rugged northeastern shore, where volcanic cliffs plunge hundreds of feet to the ocean and consistent trade wind swells batter the coastline.

The light station occupies Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park, a county park built on the site of a former coastal village devastated by the 1946 tsunami that struck without warning and killed twenty-four people, including sixteen schoolchildren and their teachers. A memorial at the park honors the victims, and the tragedy led directly to the creation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The park offers picnic facilities, restrooms, and dramatic ocean views where visitors can watch powerful waves crash against the black lava rocks. The point provides some of the most accessible tide pool exploration on the Hamakua Coast, though ocean conditions demand extreme caution. Sea turtles, monk seals, and migrating humpback whales are occasionally spotted from the point.

The Hamakua Coast receives substantial rainfall, supporting the lush tropical vegetation that lines the highway above the point. The drive along Highway 19 from Hilo to the point passes through former sugar plantation towns and offers views of numerous waterfalls cascading down the coastal cliffs. Visit during morning hours for the best light and calmest conditions, as afternoon trade winds and rain showers are common.

Explore Nearby

• ʻAkaka Falls State Park — State Park in Hawaii
• ʻAiea Bay State Recreation Area — State Park in Hawaii